Game Review: Slay the Princess – A Remarkable and Accessible Visual Novel
Hello everyone. A few days ago, I took advantage of the Steam Summer Sale to purchase Slay the Princess, a visual novel by Black Tabby Games, and it turned out to be a great decision on my part which resulted in a truly memorable experience. As someone who is totally blind, I was more than happy to make good use of the included self-voicing accessibility feature. This thoughtful addition allowed me to easily navigate through the game and make dialogue choices without any hassle. The feature can be turned on or off using the V key on the keyboard. Other accessibility options can be modified by pressing A.
In Slay the Princess, I find myself on a metaphysical journey where I’m instructed to kill a princess. However, she isn’t easy to kill, as she constantly changes form based on my decisions. This keeps me on my toes and makes me question every choice. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it thought-provoking and quite enjoyable.
For those of you that can see, there is some hand-drawn pencil art by Abby Howard. The simple yet captivating sketches add to the game’s dreamy and shifting atmosphere. As the story progresses, these drawings get more abstract and perfectly match the game’s dark theme.
The voice acting was another strong point for me. Jonathan Sims, who voices the narrator and the player character, brings a wide range of emotions to the table, guiding you through the story with his expressive performance. Nichole Goodnight, voicing the princess and her various iterations, adds depth and complexity to her character, making every interaction unique and engaging.
The gameplay itself is straightforward and intuitive. There are no complex mechanics to worry about, which allowed me to focus entirely on the adventure and the choices I needed to make. Each playthrough opens up new story branches and endings. I was lucky enough to get a happy ending, but I need to get back and explore all possible outcomes.
In conclusion, Slay the Princess is not just a visual novel; it’s an immersive, accessible, and thought-provoking adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With its compelling narrative, beautiful art, and excellent accessibility features, I highly recommend this game to everyone.
Congratulations and a huge thank you to Black Tabby Games for creating such a masterful, entertaining and inclusive experience!
Slay the Princess is available right now on Mac and PC, but another version is scheduled to be released for consoles later this year with more content and chapters. I’ve been in contact with the developer and they assured me that the Pristine Cut Era Edition will include the same accessibility features for all platforms.
Victor Dima
